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Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared on catholicmajority.com on 12/24/13. If you go to Mass this Christmas, (which I hope you do!) you will notice that there are four separate sets of readings, each with a different title. Why are there four Christmas Masses? Vigil Mass Mass at Midnight Christmas Mass at Dawn Christmas Mass during the Day The Vigil Mass still keeps a sense of Advent (In the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, violet is still a vestment option), speaking of Continue reading Guide to Christmas Masses→

Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest says the Lord. (Matthew 11:28) I’m sure we’re all familiar with the term ‘come to Jesus’ and the meanings associated with it. Sometimes they’re necessary. After I had picked up three stray cats, bringing them home with me and my brother, we decided to pollute to air with more decibels of country music, eventually, I threw his teabag out of the sink again and Continue reading Gospel Reflection for Wednesday, Second Week of Advent→

Jesus said to his disciples: “What is your opinion? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray? And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father than one of these little Continue reading Gospel Reflection for Tuesday, Second Week of Advent→

by Gretchen Pacheco, Guest Contributor to Catholic Majority In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to Continue reading Gospel Reflection for Monday, Second Week of Advent→

Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” (Mark 1:6-8) Today’s gospel reading starts with an introductory line, “The beginning of the good news of Continue reading Gospel Reflection for Second Sunday of Advent→

“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” – Matthew 9:35 I have never been involved in agriculture. The closest I have come to harvesting is buying a basil plant at a Safeway because I wanted to experiment with making pesto. Despite the success of the pesto and the satisfaction of my dinner guests, thinking about a harvest doesn’t resonate until I come to know Continue reading Gospel Reflection for Saturday, First Week of Advent→

As Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying out, “Son of David, have pity on us!” When he entered the house, the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I can do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they said to him. Then he touched their eyes and said, “Let it be done for you according to your faith.” And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” Continue reading Gospel Reflection for Friday, First Week of Advent→

Jesus said to his disciples: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.” –Matthew 7:21 Words are cheap. St. Francis knew this. He is attributed with the notion of ‘preaching the Gospel at all times, and when necessary, (using) words.’ The bucket of clichés that amounts to ‘actions speak louder than words’ are many, and probably because it contains more than Continue reading Gospel Reflection for Thursday, First Week of Advent→

“At that time: Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, went up on the mountain, and sat down there.” (Matthew 15:29) When was the last time you walked by the sea, went up on a mountain, or simply sat? All too frequently, our lives, particularly around the holidays, are spent running around in the concrete blocks that are the mall, spent under flourescent lights at the office, and stretching ourselves thin to visit with family and friends, because these are Continue reading Gospel Reflection for Wednesday, First Week of Advent→

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